Supreme Court overturns Chandigarh mayoral poll results, declares AAP-Congress candidate Kuldeep Kumar winner

Tribune News Service

Satya Prakash

New Delhi, February 20

Setting aside the Chandigarh mayoral poll results, the Supreme Court on Tuesday declared AAP-Congress combine candidate Kuldeep Kumar the winner.

8 marked votes declared valid

• Using its plenary powers under Article 142 of the Constitution, the SC held that the eight votes declared invalid were validly cast in favour of AAP-Congress combine candidate
• Kuldeep Kumar had got 20 votes as against BJP candidate Manoj Sonkar’s 16, but Returning Officer had declared 8 votes invalid

It’s possible to defeat BJP

The SC has saved democracy in difficult times. It is clear if INDIA bloc parties remain united and work strategically, they can defeat the BJP. — Arvind Kejriwal

Using its plenary powers under Article 142 of the Constitution, a three-judge Bench led by CJI DY Chandrachud held that the eight votes declared invalid were validly cast in favour of Kumar and who had in fact got 20 votes as against BJP candidate Manoj Sonkar’s 16.

“The eight votes which were treated as invalid by making those markings... counting the 8 votes for the petitioner (AAP candidate Kumar) will make him have 20 votes. We direct that the election result by the presiding officer is quashed. The AAP candidate is declared to be the winner of the Chandigarh mayoral polls,” the CJI said, dictating the order in an open court.

Out of the 36 votes, BJP candidate Manoj Sonkar had bagged 16 votes against the 12 received by Kuldeep Kumar after eight votes were rejected in the January 30 polls. Sonkar was elected as the Mayor of the Chandigarh Municipal Corporation, but he resigned on Sunday.

Deprecating Returning Officer Anil Masih’s conduct in unlawfully changing the results, the top court ordered initiation of criminal proceedings against him under Section 340 of the Criminal Procedure Code for ballot-tampering.

Masih “unlawfully altered the course of the mayoral election” and the statement he made before the court on February 19 was a “patent falsehood”, said the Bench, which also included Justice JB Pardiwala and Justice Manoj Misra.

“Registrar (Judicial) is directed to issue a notice to Anil Masih to show cause as to why steps should not be initiated against him under Section 340 of the CrPC,” it said, adding that he shall have an opportunity to respond to the show cause notice.

The Bench on Monday had expressed serious concern over horse-trading, saying: “We are deeply concerned about horse-trading which is taking place. It’s very disturbing”. It passed the order after scrutinising the ballot papers and watching the video recordings of the counting played before it. Masih had on Monday sought to defend himself, saying that the ballot papers were defaced by candidates who snatched and destroyed them and that he was separately marking the defaced ballot papers to ensure they didn’t get mixed up. “Mr Solicitor, he (Masih) has to be prosecuted. He is interfering with the election process,” CJI Chandrachud had on Monday told Solicitor General Tushar Mehta – who represented the Chandigarh Administration.

Kumar – who had challenged the mayoral election results in the Punjab and Haryana High Court – moved the top court after the high court refused to stay the results that declared BJP candidate Sonkar as the winner.

On behalf of Masih, senior counsel Mukul Rohatgi said Masih was only seen looking up at the CCTV cameras in the counting area as there was a commotion outside. “No one can do this with cameras present... there is no guilty man looking at the camera…. It’s clear that the ballots were snatched by the AAP members…. There are dots and some are folded.... One may say anything but not to call someone a thief.... It was all wrong that he looked at the camera, etc.”

Senior advocate AM Singhvi, representing Kumar, said Masih had exacerbated the “felony” by repeating that before the court. On behalf of AAP, senior counsel Gurminder Singh termed Masih’s explanations as misleading. “They ask voters to fold the slips laterally... The RO explained the procedure himself... It is on video. He (Masih) is very well aware why a dot is there and he is misleading his senior counsel,” said Singh, who was assisted by advocate RPS Bara.

About The Author

Tribune News Service

The Tribune News Service brings you the latest news, analysis and insights from the region, India and around the world. Follow the Tribune News Service for a wide-ranging coverage of events as they unfold, with perspective and clarity.

Join Whatsapp Channel of The Tribune for latest updates.

#Congress #Supreme Court